Sandra's Disability Discrimination Case
How one woman fought back after being dismissed for her disability
Sandra had worked as a project coordinator for a marketing firm in Galway for five years. Her annual reviews were consistently positive—her manager praised her attention to detail and her ability to manage multiple campaigns. Then, in early 2022, she disclosed that she had a chronic health condition that would require occasional medical appointments. She wasn't asking for much—just flexibility to attend consultations when needed. Within two months, everything changed. She was called into a meeting and told her performance had "declined significantly." No examples were given. No improvement plan was offered. She was simply let go.
Sandra was devastated. She knew this couldn't be coincidence. Her work hadn't changed. The only thing that had changed was that her employer now knew about her disability. She contacted a solicitor who specialised in employment law. After reviewing her records—the positive reviews, the timing of her dismissal, the lack of any performance documentation—it became clear she had a strong case for disability discrimination.
The case went to the Workplace Relations Commission. The employer's defence crumbled quickly when confronted with the evidence. There was no documentation of poor performance before the disclosure, and no legitimate reason for the sudden dismissal. The adjudicator found in Sandra's favour, ruling that she had been discriminated against based on her disability. She received compensation and an apology from her former employer.
In Ireland, the Equal Status Acts and the Employment Equality Acts protect people from discrimination based on disability. It is illegal for an employer to treat someone less favourably because of a disability, including dismissing them, refusing them promotion, or creating a hostile work environment. The law applies whether the disability is visible or not, and whether it significantly impacts daily life or not. If an employer acts against you within a short time of learning about a disability, it can be strong evidence of discrimination.
You have six months from the date of the discriminatory action to bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to claim, with very limited exceptions. If you believe you've been discriminated against because of a disability, don't delay—contact a solicitor as soon as possible to protect your rights.